…Insists on Okezie Akwiwu who won the election in 13 kindreds out of 15 on Aug. 2020.
On Saturday April 19, the people of Ogwuaga-Abba Autonomous Community in Nwangele Local Government Area which included elders,leaders,youths women and the overwhelming majority of the community members had gathered peacefully at the Akwiwu compound in Ogwuaga to make their position on their royal stool known.
In a Press release by the community signed on their behalf by the President- General, PG and Secretary of the community, Professor Frank Ojiako (Ochuariri), President General and Mr Ashabelem Collins, the Secretary. Over 200 representatives of their respective villages and kindreds also appended their signatures to the declaration. The declaration, which was read in part, “It has come to the attention of the good people of the community that the Imo State Government under the esteemed leadership of Senator Hope Uzodinma, has issued a staff of office to Chief Obinna Akwiwu thereby designating him as the Eze and Traditional Ruler of their community”.
The people of Ogwuaga Abba repudiated, in its entirety, the imposition of Chief Obinna Akwiwu as the Eze and Traditional Ruler of their community reeling out their reasons on good grounds.
It was stated that on the 30 August 30, 2020, an election was lawfully conducted in Ogwuaga- Abba for the determination of a new Eze and Traditional Ruler, a process instituted to fill the vacancy occasioned by the passing of their esteemed and revered Eze and Traditional Ruler, HRH Eze Justice GGI Ojiako CON, a retired Chief Judge of Imo state,the Dim Ohamadike of Ogwuaga-Abba who joined his ancestors in December, 2018.
It was disclosed that in a free and fair electoral process,administered by a duly empanelled electoral body representing the community, both Chief Obinna Akwiwu and Chief Okezie Akwiwu duly participated and the election clearly evidenced that Chief Okezie Akwiwu prevailed decisively over his opponent ( Obinna Akwiwu) by securing victory in 13 out of the 15 recognized kindreds within Ogwuaga -Abba autonomous community.
The people of Ogwuaga Abba therefore could not understand the reason that propelled an individual, victorious in only two Kindreds, to be accorded the esteemed position of Eze and Traditional Ruler of a community comprising 15 kindreds.
The release further disclosed that the Ogwuaga stakeholders had earlier rejected Chief Obinna Akwiwu’s candidature and that in an attempt to achieve consensus, a meeting of critical stakeholders was held on the 26th and 27th of August, 2020 at the palace of Dim Ohamadike I, the late Justice GGI Ojiako.
It was also reported that during the meeting, one of the contenders who is also the Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Kirian Ikeata withdrew from the race leaving only two contenders, Chief Obinna Akwiwu and Chief Okezie Akwiwu and that despite all efforts,none of the remaining candidates agreed to step down for the other but however the meeting resolved by a majority decision that based on facts available,Chief Obinna Akwiwu should step down for Chief Okezie Akwiwu.
It was stated that after the decision, Chief Obinna Akwiwu withdrew from further participation in the meeting after the first day despite the fact that it was his side that initiated the meeting and drew up the list of participants.
The people of Ogwuaga- Abba are therefore calling upon the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Distinguished, Senator Hope Uzodinma to rescind what they described as “the erroneous decision” and to withdraw the staff of office that has been inappropriately conferred upon Chief Obinna Akwiwu.
They are insisting that in the interest of upholding peace, justice and the principles of fair play, the will of the vast majority of their community should prevail and that it is their considered position that Chief Okezie Akwiwu, having been duly elected,is the rightful Eze and Traditional Ruler and should be formally recognized as such.
The people of Ogwuaga-Abba have also commended their duly elected Eze, Chief Okezie Akwiwu for his timely intervention and appeal to their community particularly to the youth,to remain calm and law-abiding in the face of what they deem a blatant subversion of the democratic will of the people and also acknowledged his assurance that appropriate measures are being instituted to restore the mandate of the majority of the citizens of Ogwuaga-Abba autonomous community.
They declared: “it is imperative to note that Ogwuaga-Abba is fundamentally a peace loving community” believing in the adage, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’.
Record shows that Ogwuaga- Abba consists of two principle villages namely Umudimagu and Dimuhie. Umudimagu has three villages; Dimagu, Dimukwubemgba and Uriaba whilst Dimuhie comprises two villages, namely, Amato and Mbara Uhuala.
It should be recalled that during the tenure of the late Eze Jusitice Ojiako,it was resolved by the people that the royal stool shall be rotatory between the two principle villages and given that the late Eze Justice GGI Ojiako hailed from Dimukwubemgba village in Umudimagu principle village, it follows by rotational convention that the succeeding Eze must be drawn from Dimuhie principle village.
They recalled that in the course of the candidates’ screening process pursuant to the already established electoral by-laws, three candidates had emerged from Dimuihe, one of which was reported to have withdrawn from the race.
It was also disclosed that in the family of Akwiwu, the eldest has openly laid down his solidarity to Chief Okezie Akwiwu,an engineer by profession.
It was clearly elucidated that the doctrine of the oldest being accorded Ezeship stool is alien, not only to Ogwuaga Abba but to the other three autonomous communities that make up Abba Clan.